Evaluating the strengths and weaknesses of the New Orleans Pelicans entering the 2021 NBA season
Can you believe how quickly we’ve made it back to basketball season? I know that I can’t, but I am certainly happy to have the NBA back during this crazy year. I think my excitement especially comes from the opportunity to see the New Orleans Pelicans take the court again with a new head coach, a revamped lineup, and eyes on the playoffs.
I know that last season we had many of the same feelings about the team, but a few factors are making this team different. Before last season, I think there were more uncertainties than anything regarding the Pelicans. Could fans trust the all-offense no-defense coaching of Alvin Gentry? Was there enough on the roster?
Now I’m not saying that this year’s team isn’t without questions of their own, but the moves the organization made this season make this year’s roster feel much closer to a playoff-lock than a fringe surprise. So let’s take a closer look and preview what the New Orleans Pelicans’ biggest strengths and weaknesses are heading into this season.
David Griffin’s renovated frontcourt looks to be one of the biggest strengths of the New Orleans Pelicans in 2021
Strength #1- The Physical Zion Williamson-Steven Adams frontcourt
I think it’s absolutely crazy that some people view this frontcourt pairing that David Griffin created as a weakness. In my opinion, it might be this roster’s biggest strength.
The reason why I say this is because last season’s Pelicans team struggled with guarding the interior and playing with physicality. Now, they sport two of the most physical interior defenders in the NBA as their frontcourt with a healthy Zion Williamson, and Steven Adams who the team acquired from the Oklahoma City Thunder.
This duo should be difficult to contain on the interior. Their mass and playstyle will allow them to work their way to the basket consistently for easy scores which are a hallmark of the Stan Van Gundy offense.
Beyond that, I think their presence will make life easier on the rest of the roster. Guards like Lonzo Ball, Eric Bledsoe, and the newly drafted Kira Lewis Jr. should have great success attacking the basket with this frontcourt setting screens. And Brandon Ingram is probably thanking the heavens that he has a powerful duo to mask him defensively while he looks to score.
Speaking of defense, both Williamson and Adams’ defensive abilities should also help improve this team’s defensive front which was one of the worst in the league last year in terms of defending the paint. I think Stan Van Gundy said it best by proclaiming that no one is punking this year’s Pelicans, and I wouldn’t be surprised if this front also builds the “wall” that Van Gundy so famously rants about.
Of course, while Griffin addressed the frontcourt really well, he might have missed the mark on this part of the Pelicans’ roster.